Calvary Baptist Church of Brownsboro welcomes Brother Zinn

Bro. Wiley Zinn

Calvary Baptist Church of Brownsboro has welcomed as their new pastor, Brother Wiley Zinn.

Brother Wiley and his wife of 32 years moved to Brownsboro January 1, from Temple, Texas where he served as associate pastor and worship minister at Lakeview Baptist in Belton, Texas.

Bro. Wiley, 53, was called to serve Calvary Baptist when the church's previous pastor, Tobey Clements was called to serve a church in Colvert, Oklahoma.

Born and raised near Lubbock, Texas, Bro. Wiley said his father was a Baptist preacher and pastored churches in West Texas. A fourth generation pastor, Bro. Wiley said his great grandfather and grandfather both farmed and pastored, and his father pastored full time.

Bro. Wiley's father 's pastoring moved the family to Missouri between his junior and senior year in high school. That's when he says he met the love of his life, Debbie. He attended Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri with a double major in religious studies and psychology.

"Then I moved back to Texas as fast as I could," he said.

Upon his return to Texas, Bro. Wiley attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.

In the early years of his ministering he traveled three years as a full-time evangelist singing with the Wildwood Quartet. He has also pastored several churches in Missouri and Texas serving both as associate pastor and as senior pastor.

Once members of Calvary Baptist heard Bro. Wiley preach, they voted unanimously to call him as their new pastor.

"Larry Featherston, chairman of the church's Deacons said that was the first time the church has ever voted unanimously on a preacher," Bro. Wiley said. "With it being that kind of call, I just felt compelled to come and serve."

Bro. Wiley and Debbie have three grown children. Daughter Ary is married to Rev. John Franklin, a pastor at Lacklund Baptist Church in San Antonio; Son John Zinn and his wife Jennifer live in San Francisco, California where they are both attending the Art Academy of San Francisco; and daughter Laura is married to Richard Eitel, and live in Temple, Texas.

Debbie worked in pediatric dentistry and urology while living in Temple. Although she has applied for work at Trinity Mother Frances and ETMC she is currently enjoying being home and helping her husband.

"I've enjoyed having her help me," he said. "She really is one of the best things that happened to me. She is very supportive."

Several goals Bro. Wiley has for Calvary Baptist includes strengthening the Sunday School program, involving more churches in the BOLD program, and helping people gain a better understanding who God is and how to have a relationship with God and other people.

"I want to help strengthen our community and our church," he said. "I hope to be a positive influence in the community. My main goal is to help people gain a better understanding of who God is so they can have a better relationship with Him. The Bible emphasizes relationships. Having the right relationship with God comes first because we can't have a relationship with others until we have one with Him."

While the church's new parsonage is under construction, Bro. Wiley and Debbie live in a home on Stuart St.

"The slab is poured and we are trying to use as much volunteer work as possible," he said. "We've been talking to several Baptist Men's groups to help us with the framing up, electricity, and other work."

Bro. Wiley said what can't be done voluntarily the church will hire out.

In the meantime, Bro. Wiley will continue to serve his church and community as he was called to do.

"We certainly welcome anyone to come and attend and be a part of our church, be a part of our family," Bro. Wiley said. "We're not perfect. We're just forgiven."